After a car accident, victims must contend with the cost of physical injuries and property damage. Unfortunately, some individuals develop psychological issues because of the accident. Auto accidents are traumatic and cause serious conditions for many people. PTSD is just one psychiatric issue that is caused by an auto accident and requires extensive treatment and higher costs for the injured party.
Get the Accident Report
After an auto accident, someone must report the accident to the highway patrol to get an official accident report. Most state laws require auto accidents to be reported if any party has incurred at least $1,200 in property damage and if at least one party has injuries.
An auto accident report is a vital part of a personal injury case and proves that the accident happened. Any party that was injured in a car accident gets started on a claim by contacting an attorney now.
Gather Up Medical Records
Before the case goes to court, the attorney gathers all medical records for the claimant. If the person’s physical injuries are recorded in the records and provide substantial evidence of the at-fault driver’s liability. If the injured party suffered psychological injuries because of the accident, the psychiatric records must be presented to the court, too. All medical records that relate to the accident claim are added to the claim and shown to the court.
Get Invoices for All Medical Care Related to the Event
All medical costs are included in the economic losses incurred by the victim. Treatment for physical and psychological injuries increases the cost incurred by the victim. The attorney gets invoices for these costs from the doctors directly and submits the invoices with the claim.
If the injuries require ongoing treatment, the doctor can provide a projected cost for the treatment and send these estimates to the attorney. When calculating the monetary award, all medical expenses are required to give the court a full picture of these costs.
Gather Testimony from Witnesses
All eyewitnesses must tell law enforcement officers what they saw. When starting the legal claim, the attorney can contact the witnesses and set up depositions to get the testimony. The account of the accident can support the victim’s claim and improve their chances of winning the case. If the testimony shows the same story as the injured party, there is a possibility of getting compensation.
Let the Attorney Negotiate
The attorney should negotiate with the defense, and the claimant should never talk to any representative for the defense. If the plaintiff talks to the defendant’s attorney, the person could unintentionally agree to a settlement offer and won’t get the full amount entitled to them. The lawyer knows what to say to get a fair settlement and decides if the case should go to court. The victim could get a higher settlement if the attorney handles everything.
All auto accidents can produce injuries, and some parties develop psychological injuries because of the accident. PTSD is possible for people involved in accidents, and the condition can prevent the person from ever driving again because of the fear and anxiety driving causes.
A personal injury claim can help the victims get a chance to collect all the financial losses caused by the accident, including the cost of psychiatric services. By hiring an attorney, injured parties could get a fair settlement or compensation through court.